AFTER feeling the love for a fleeting moment at Sixfields, Swindon Town were left to reflect on late heartbreak as they slipped to defeat at Northampton Town this evening.

Luke Norris’ 81st-minute header looked like it may have earned Town a point after a rickety display but they had their wings clipped just a minute later as John-Joe O’Toole’s goal condemned them to a fifth loss on the spin.

Luke Williams made two changes to the team that suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Bury at the weekend, with loanee Rohan Ince, who is the midst of a trial for an alleged assault, and striker Jermaine Hylton dropping out of the Town squad altogether.

Ince’s absence paved the way for Lloyd Jones to return to the fold and form part of a three-man defence, with Dion Conroy moving into a defensive midfield position, whilst, having completed half-an-hour on off the bench at Gigg Lane, striker Jonathan Obika made his first start since January 7.

Norris was also passed fit to begin the game on the substitutes’ bench following the groin problem that ruled him out the Bury game.

On the other side of the coin, old flame Michael Smith started against his former club while Keshi Anderson, a former Town target, also began the evening in the Cobblers line-up.

A bright Swindon start soon turned sour, with Fankaty Dabo’s loose pass gobbled up by Northampton midfielder O’Toole, who passed to Anderson to lay the ball off to fellow forward Marc Richards.

The Cobblers’ experienced skipper had time and space to take aim at the Town goal but skewed his shot over the bar to let the visitors off the hook.

Not content with that close shave however, Swindon contrived to hand their opponents an even more promising sight of goal, with Crystal Palace loanee Anderson cutting into the box before being clumsily barged over by a flailing Dabo.

Richards, with three goals in his last four games, was the man to take responsibility from the penalty spot but his right-footed strike was spectacularly tipped onto the post by Lawrence Vigouroux to save Town’s bacon.

If Dabo hadn’t already purchased his goalkeeper a card and flowers, he certainly ought to after the game.

Despite escaping trouble, Swindon struggled to impose themselves on proceedings as the half progressed, the bright and inventive Anderson, who Town were interested in taking on loan themselves earlier this season, looking dangerous every time he arrowed into the penalty box.

With 28 minutes on the clock, the Cobblers man picked out Michael Smith at the far post but the tall striker passed up the opportunity for a goal against his former employers, heading harmlessly across the face of goal from an inviting position.

There was no love lost between Charlie Colkett and Michael Smith when they were both booked for handbags following an aerial foul by the Northampton man and it took until the 37th minute for Town to threaten, with Ben Gladwin driving forward and laying the ball off for Colkett to hammer a shot into the arms of home goalie Adam Smith.

At the other end, full-back David Buchanan embarked on a jinking run before crossing onto the noggin of Richards but Vigouroux saved low down by his feet while at the other end, a big opportunity went begging as Obika slide the ball into the feet of Controy but he lost composure and skied into the stand behind the Cobblers goal.

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill was introduced to take the place of Dabo at half-time and five minutes after the action resumed, Michael Smith was denied his moment in the sun once again as he broke and slotted into the bottom corner, only to see the linesman’s flag raised for offside.

At the other end, Swindon’s best chance of the game so far went begging as Raphael Branco connected with Colkett’s inswinging corner but saw Adam Smith produce an excellent reaction save, with Nicky Ajose unable to turn home the rebound, his tame effort blocked on the line.

Both teams then suffered moments of indecision at either end, Ajose pouncing on a loose pass and forcing keeper Adam Smith into a hurried clearance, with his kick soaring up the pitch and into the fee of Michael Smith, who had to be halted by a desperate challenge from Branco.

In the 64th minute, Town’s resistance was finally breached as O’Toole expertly held off Ormonde-Ottewill before sliding a pass around the corner for full-back Neil Eardley.

His devilish delivery from the right flank fizzed into the area and a despairing Jones could only watch on in horror as it deflected into the net off his outstretched leg.

In a flash, Northampton almost doubled their lead as Anderson got on the ball on the edge of the area and produced a deft right-footed effort that beat Vigouroux but pinged off the inside of the bar, with only some wild last-ditch blocks preventing Hiram Boateng from following up.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, so came the late drama.

First, James Brophy embarked on a mesmerising run, jinking past a host of defenders as he drove to the byline before crossing for Norris to head home and send the away end into raptures.

But Town’s joy was short-lived as, after Vigouroux produced a stunning save to tip away Boateng’s shot destined for the top corner, from the resultant set-piece, Taylor produced a trademark delivery from the right flank and, just like he did at the County Ground in September, O’Toole rose highest at the near post and headed his team back into the lead.

With Swindon still rocking from that hammer-blow, Vigouroux had to be at his best to deny Richards one-on-one but his heroics only served to keep the score down.

Brophy thought he may have engineered another Town lifeline when his injury-time shot appeared to strike the arm of substitute Jak McCourt but referee Darren Handley was unmoved, with the final action of the game seeing Vigouroux serve up another moment of brilliance as he tipped over a deflected Richards strike.

SWINDON TOWN: Lawrence Vigouroux, Fankaty Dabo (Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill 45), Nathan Thompson (C), Dion Conroy (John Goddard 70), Lloyd Jones, Raphael Branco, James Brophy, Charlie Colkett, Ben Gladwin, Nicky Ajose, Jonathan Obika (Luke Norris 65).

Subs not used: Will Henry, Anton Rodgers, Conor Thomas, Yaser Kasim.

Referee: Darren Handley

Attendance: 5,094 (423 away supporters)